Using Pilates Equipment at My Studio in Basildon, Essex
Whether you’re an instructor or participant, one of the most important things you’ll learn about Pilates equipment is that everything works together to give you the best result. At my studio in Basildon, Essex, I programme Pilates classes and sessions using a wide range of apparatus, rather than hitting the same equipment over and over again. Contact Exclusive Pilates today to discover more.
The Reformer
The reformer is the original piece of apparatus that Joseph Pilates developed, inspired by beds in POW camps. It resembles a bed with springs, ropes, pulleys, and a sliding carriage. This can be quite intimidating and almost medieval on first impression, but you will be pleasantly surprised after experiencing a workout on it.
Offering much more variety than a traditional mat workout, the reformer provides increased spring resistance and greater intensity. It was originally used to break down the fluent movements in a matwork sequence and strengthen the participant, enabling them to execute the exercise with better quality of movement. Nowadays, it’s a great piece of apparatus to strengthen, tone, lengthen, lift, and stretch.
Offering much more variety than a traditional mat workout, the reformer provides increased spring resistance and greater intensity. It was originally used to break down the fluent movements in a matwork sequence and strengthen the participant, enabling them to execute the exercise with better quality of movement. Nowadays, it’s a great piece of apparatus to strengthen, tone, lengthen, lift, and stretch.
It is also a great sport-specific training tool. All exercises initiate with strength from the core, which is necessary for any athlete or sports enthusiast, and the exercises will encourage peripheral joint stability, balance, coordination, muscle strength, and flexibility.
From a rehabilitation aspect, the reformer is great as it enables the client to exercise in a horizontal plane of motion, therefore not vertically loading and weight bearing through the joints. An example of this is post-knee surgery, where strength and stability are needed around the knee joint – the exercise uses a light load without the joint bearing the weight. You can increase or decrease the workout intensity by changing the number of springs on the hooks. Sometimes, fewer springs can make the workout harder rather than easier.
From a rehabilitation aspect, the reformer is great as it enables the client to exercise in a horizontal plane of motion, therefore not vertically loading and weight bearing through the joints. An example of this is post-knee surgery, where strength and stability are needed around the knee joint – the exercise uses a light load without the joint bearing the weight. You can increase or decrease the workout intensity by changing the number of springs on the hooks. Sometimes, fewer springs can make the workout harder rather than easier.
The Cadillac
The Pilates Cadillac is a raised mat table that includes metal poles, various metal bar systems, and springs. Enabling easy accessibility, the raised table includes a strap which assists with grounding your legs during certain exercises. It also has leg springs, arm springs, a rolldown bar, fuzzy straps, a trapeze, and a push-through bar.
The leg springs can be used for supine or side-lying leg exercises and the arm springs for supine, kneeling, and standing exercises. The rolldown bar can be used for numerous exercises, which include the roll-down with an added arm press and side bend, as well as chest expansion and thigh stretch.
The fuzzy straps are used for inversions, such as the half and full hang (which you cannot do on the reformer), which allow reverse blood flow to your brain and decompression of the spinal column. The trapeze is classically used for ballet stretches and other exercises. The push-through bar can be used to stretch your legs, shoulders, and spine in numerous ways, and can be connected from the top or bottom of the Cadillac depending on the exercise.
One of the primary benefits the Cadillac has over the reformer is that, when doing arm or leg exercises using the springs, each leg or arm has its own spring, so when doing bilateral work, it shows up any imbalances between right and left.
One of the primary benefits the Cadillac has over the reformer is that, when doing arm or leg exercises using the springs, each leg or arm has its own spring, so when doing bilateral work, it shows up any imbalances between right and left.
The Stability Chair
Ideal for pregnant women and people undergoing physiotherapy, the stability chair is another extremely valuable and functional piece of Pilates equipment. Similar to other types of equipment, the chair utilises tension springs. The handlebars located on the side of the chair are adjustable for different heights, allowing it to work with different body types.
Many exercises can be practised while sitting in the chair itself, but countless other exercises can be completed by standing, kneeling, and balancing on different parts of the chair itself. This makes it a perfect alternative to the reformer for people who cannot do leg work lying down, such as pregnant ladies in their second or third trimester.
It is also great for leg strengthening work for skiers and sportspersons alike and can simplify a mat exercise or challenge a mat exercise. Some fab abdominal exercises can also be done on the chair, as well as great scapular (shoulder) work.
The Ladder Barrel
Consisting of a frame with a curved barrel and a wooden ladder attached, the ladder barrel is great for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or a fully conditioned exerciser, this challenges core stability and strength. Designed for serious core conditioning and increased flexibility and mobility, it complements the reformer workout well, as it enables you to learn some of the key exercises and movements with reduced intensity, before doing them on the reformer.
The Spine Corrector
The spine corrector is an essential Pilates tool for correcting and restoring the spine’s natural curvature while performing exercises that strengthen and lengthen the torso, shoulders, back, and legs. Ideal for aligning and mobilising the spine, this equipment can also assist with improving posture. Its slanted platform, with dense foam padding and smooth pale wooden handgrips, provides comfort for clients while accommodating diverse exerciser needs.
The Arc Barrel
The arc barrel features a gentle curve that helps decompress and lengthen the spine. It is used during matwork to increase or decrease the challenge level and to assist rehab clients. Dense EVA foam cushioning provides optimal comfort and faithful proprioceptive feedback.
The Cardio Tramp and Jump Board
Attached to the end of the reformer, the cardio tramp is basically a mini-trampoline, but for jumping lying down, on your side, or on your knees. This allows you to elevate your heart rate, metabolise fat, and improve cardiovascular fitness without the stresses on your joints you get from trampolining in a standing position. The trampoline sections are interspersed with other reformer resistance exercises to produce an effective HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout. This is a fun and challenging workout with a HUGE emphasis on the abdominal muscles.
The jump board is similar, but it is a hard surface, which means it does not offer as much give on the joints, but still provides a fab workout. It also affords a bigger base for footwork exercises with variations.
The jump board is similar, but it is a hard surface, which means it does not offer as much give on the joints, but still provides a fab workout. It also affords a bigger base for footwork exercises with variations.
Wide-Ranging Equipment and Apparatus
I firmly believe that a wider range of Pilates exercises and equipment will yield better results.